A Talk story last month looked at quirky Illinois place names such as Oblong and Goofy Ridge, and the fact that Jo Daviess County misspells the name of the man it is honoring. In response, we received dozens of contributions from readers, including these: West Salem is located east of Salem. — Jeff Ingram, Tazewell, Va. (formerly of West Salem) Rockefeller was an earlier name for what is now Mundelein. — Bindy Bitterman, Chicago Under funny names I love:...

Reversal: County commissioners in Georgetown, Texas, changed their minds Tuesday, approving a modified $750,000 financial incentive package for Apple Computer, despite the company's policy of giving health benefits the the partners of gay employees. Williamson County commissioners voted 3-2 to grant Apple the tax break toward a proposed $80 million customer service center that eventually would employ 1,700 people. Last week the commissioners rejected the deal. Commissioner...

In an unusual legal concession, a longtime prosecutor from southern Illinois said Monday that he would agree to a new trial for a man convicted of murder amid allegations the prosecutor improperly injected racially charged language at the trial two years ago. Charles Garnati, the state's attorney of Williamson County, said in a statement that it was "fair and proper" to confess error in the case of Marcus Marshall, who was convicted in July 2011...

It sounded like a bonanza for suburban Williamson County: high-tech, high-wage jobs - 1,500 or more by the turn of the century. The Silicon Valley giant Apple Computer wanted to build an $80 million office complex just north of Austin. But shortly after Apple executives and county officials announced the plans, in tandem with a $750,000 property tax abatement for the company, two of the five county commissioners here raised objections. Apple, they noted, is one of a small but...

Critics of township government say that its greatest flaw is that it is invisible. On the contrary: Never before has this unit of government been so public. Recent movements to abolish township government have placed this small-town authority under close examination--and in the unusual position of needing to promote itself. The Township Officials of Illinois just released a 12-minute video called "Township Government: They're the People Next Door," and bumper stickers proclaiming...

In its "Winners & Losers" feature, Time magazine recently put Williamson County, Texas, in the loser column because county officials had said "no, thanks" to an Apple Computer plan to build an office complex that would bring in jobs and money. Three of five county commissioners objected to the plan's provision of a property-tax abatement for Apple. Because the company extends health benefits to same-sex couples, the commissioners said, giving Apple a tax break would condone homosexuality.

In its "Winners & Losers" feature, Time magazine recently put Williamson County, Texas, in the loser column because county officials had said "no, thanks" to an Apple Computer plan to build an office complex that would bring in jobs and money. Three of five county commissioners objected to the plan's provision of a property-tax abatement for Apple. Because the company extends health benefits to same-sex couples, the commissioners said, giving Apple a tax break would condone homosexuality.

Thirty-eight communities or groups of communities are asking state officials to select them as the site of Illinois` latest $40 million medium-security prison, according to Department of Corrections officials. Corrections director Michael Lane is expected to narrow the field of candidates to six by May 1 and give his recommendation to Gov. James Thompson. The 750-bed facility is to be constructed during a 20-to-24-month period beginning in the spring of 1988. The communities...

It looks as though homosexuality will be coming to Williamson County, Texas, after all. Last week, the county commissioners voted to reject a $750,000 property tax abatement for Apple Computer, which wanted to build an $80 million office complex on a patch of Central Texas ranch land. The reason was not that the commissioners didn't want the 1,500 jobs that Apple would bring but that they didn't want the kind of people the company might hire. What kind of...

In an unusual legal concession, a longtime prosecutor from southern Illinois said Monday that he would agree to a new trial for a man convicted of murder amid allegations the prosecutor improperly injected racially charged language at the trial two years ago. Charles Garnati, the state's attorney of Williamson County, said in a statement that it was "fair and proper" to confess error in the case of Marcus Marshall, who was convicted in July 2011...

It looks as though homosexuality will be coming to Williamson County, Texas, after all. Last week, the county commissioners voted to reject a $750,000 property tax abatement for Apple Computer, which wanted to build an $80 million office complex on a patch of Central Texas ranch land. The reason was not that the commissioners didn't want the 1,500 jobs that Apple would bring but that they didn't want the kind of people the company might hire. What kind of...

Reversal: County commissioners in Georgetown, Texas, changed their minds Tuesday, approving a modified $750,000 financial incentive package for Apple Computer, despite the company's policy of giving health benefits the the partners of gay employees. Williamson County commissioners voted 3-2 to grant Apple the tax break toward a proposed $80 million customer service center that eventually would employ 1,700 people. Last week the commissioners rejected the deal. Commissioner...

A Talk story last month looked at quirky Illinois place names such as Oblong and Goofy Ridge, and the fact that Jo Daviess County misspells the name of the man it is honoring. In response, we received dozens of contributions from readers, including these: West Salem is located east of Salem. — Jeff Ingram, Tazewell, Va. (formerly of West Salem) Rockefeller was an earlier name for what is now Mundelein. — Bindy Bitterman, Chicago Under funny names I love:...

It sounded like a bonanza for suburban Williamson County: high-tech, high-wage jobs - 1,500 or more by the turn of the century. The Silicon Valley giant Apple Computer wanted to build an $80 million office complex just north of Austin. But shortly after Apple executives and county officials announced the plans, in tandem with a $750,000 property tax abatement for the company, two of the five county commissioners here raised objections. Apple, they noted, is one of a small but...

Critics of township government say that its greatest flaw is that it is invisible. On the contrary: Never before has this unit of government been so public. Recent movements to abolish township government have placed this small-town authority under close examination--and in the unusual position of needing to promote itself. The Township Officials of Illinois just released a 12-minute video called "Township Government: They're the People Next Door," and bumper stickers proclaiming...

Thirty-eight communities or groups of communities are asking state officials to select them as the site of Illinois` latest $40 million medium-security prison, according to Department of Corrections officials. Corrections director Michael Lane is expected to narrow the field of candidates to six by May 1 and give his recommendation to Gov. James Thompson. The 750-bed facility is to be constructed during a 20-to-24-month period beginning in the spring of 1988. The communities...

Police Sunday arrested Jose E. Negrete, 21, of 4242 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, on a warrant for deceptive practices from the Williamson County Sheriff's Department after being called to an accident in the Lincoln Mall parking lot.